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| Tehran Symphony Orchestra at low note as financial stress stops play | Tehran Symphony Orchestra at low note as financial stress stops play |
| (8 days later) | |
| It was a VIP audience for what was likely to be the last performance of the venerable Tehran Symphony Orchestra. Watching from the front row in late August was Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in what was seen as an endorsement from the ruling theocracy that had once tried to stamp out all music as a violation of Islamic values. | It was a VIP audience for what was likely to be the last performance of the venerable Tehran Symphony Orchestra. Watching from the front row in late August was Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in what was seen as an endorsement from the ruling theocracy that had once tried to stamp out all music as a violation of Islamic values. |
| But, just two months on, the musicians are out of work, funding has run dry and an institution of nearly 80 years that survived wars, coups and the 1979 Islamic revolution, was on Tuesday declared by the media to be in a "coma". | But, just two months on, the musicians are out of work, funding has run dry and an institution of nearly 80 years that survived wars, coups and the 1979 Islamic revolution, was on Tuesday declared by the media to be in a "coma". |
| The apparent tipping point was financial. It could be counted as collateral damage from western sanctions that have left Iran's economy so stressed the authorities are considering banning exports of staples such as rice and wheat in order to boost emergency stockpiles. | The apparent tipping point was financial. It could be counted as collateral damage from western sanctions that have left Iran's economy so stressed the authorities are considering banning exports of staples such as rice and wheat in order to boost emergency stockpiles. |
| "We are currently facing a financial drought," Ali Larijani, parliament's speaker, told officials on Monday. "We will have a more difficult year ahead." | "We are currently facing a financial drought," Ali Larijani, parliament's speaker, told officials on Monday. "We will have a more difficult year ahead." |
| The full story of the orchestra's demise runs deeper. In a time of escalating showdowns with the west over Iran's suspected nuclear programme, the opposition by Iran's clerical leadership towards anything thought too western is gaining strength. | The full story of the orchestra's demise runs deeper. In a time of escalating showdowns with the west over Iran's suspected nuclear programme, the opposition by Iran's clerical leadership towards anything thought too western is gaining strength. |
| "Musicians have had no support in recent years," said Saba Radman, a music journalist. "They feel very disillusioned." | "Musicians have had no support in recent years," said Saba Radman, a music journalist. "They feel very disillusioned." |
| The Tehran orchestra, by far the oldest and biggest of several concert hall-style ensembles in Iran, was often a target of hardliners because of its roots in the era of the western-backed monarchy that was toppled by the Islamic revolution. During its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, it hosted performances by famous musicians including the violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin. | The Tehran orchestra, by far the oldest and biggest of several concert hall-style ensembles in Iran, was often a target of hardliners because of its roots in the era of the western-backed monarchy that was toppled by the Islamic revolution. During its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, it hosted performances by famous musicians including the violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin. |
| The orchestra fell further from favour during a European tour after the riots triggered by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in 2009. | The orchestra fell further from favour during a European tour after the riots triggered by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in 2009. |
| Opposition supporters in Europe used the concerts as forums to denounce Iran's ruling system and flash the green wristbands and scarves that symbolised the protest movement. | Opposition supporters in Europe used the concerts as forums to denounce Iran's ruling system and flash the green wristbands and scarves that symbolised the protest movement. |
| Meanwhile, Islamic conservatives, including forces within the powerful Revolutionary Guard, reclaimed influence following the widespread crackdowns on reformists and found they could even exert muscle over Khamenei. | Meanwhile, Islamic conservatives, including forces within the powerful Revolutionary Guard, reclaimed influence following the widespread crackdowns on reformists and found they could even exert muscle over Khamenei. |
| Cultural groups beyond direct state control, such as the Tehran orchestra, have often come under suspicion as potential liberal-leaning havens. In January, authorities closed down the House of Cinema, an independent film group, which had operated for 20 years. | Cultural groups beyond direct state control, such as the Tehran orchestra, have often come under suspicion as potential liberal-leaning havens. In January, authorities closed down the House of Cinema, an independent film group, which had operated for 20 years. |
| "Many concerts have been cancelled by local authorities over the past years, but the culture ministry raised no objections," said Radman. | "Many concerts have been cancelled by local authorities over the past years, but the culture ministry raised no objections," said Radman. |
| Hamid Shahabadi, the deputy culture minister in charge of artistic affairs, acknowledged there had been some delays in payments for musicians, but insisted the orchestra had not been disbanded. Nonetheless, he indicated that its musicians needed to look for work elsewhere. He suggested some could be absorbed into a planned state-run institution that would oversee all the remaining orchestras – ones that concentrate heavily on traditional Persian music. | Hamid Shahabadi, the deputy culture minister in charge of artistic affairs, acknowledged there had been some delays in payments for musicians, but insisted the orchestra had not been disbanded. Nonetheless, he indicated that its musicians needed to look for work elsewhere. He suggested some could be absorbed into a planned state-run institution that would oversee all the remaining orchestras – ones that concentrate heavily on traditional Persian music. |
| In late August, the orchestra might well have played its last piece, the Iranian national anthem, at the opening of the Nonaligned Movement summit, which Iranian officials billed as a world gathering challenging the economic pressures of the west over Tehran's nuclear programme. | In late August, the orchestra might well have played its last piece, the Iranian national anthem, at the opening of the Nonaligned Movement summit, which Iranian officials billed as a world gathering challenging the economic pressures of the west over Tehran's nuclear programme. |
| Orchestra members told the semiofficial ILNA news agency on Monday that they had not rehearsed together or been paid for three months. | Orchestra members told the semiofficial ILNA news agency on Monday that they had not rehearsed together or been paid for three months. |
| An experienced musician can receive 6m rials (about £304) a month at current exchange rates, less than the average pay for a taxi driver. Many have to supplement income through additional performances or other work. | An experienced musician can receive 6m rials (about £304) a month at current exchange rates, less than the average pay for a taxi driver. Many have to supplement income through additional performances or other work. |
| Fazel Jamshidi, a singer, was quoted by the semiofficial Mehr news agency as saying that rather than focusing on their profession many Iranian artists were working as taxi drivers, office secretaries and accountants. | Fazel Jamshidi, a singer, was quoted by the semiofficial Mehr news agency as saying that rather than focusing on their profession many Iranian artists were working as taxi drivers, office secretaries and accountants. |
| Arsalan Kamkar, a violinist in the orchestra, said on Monday that only seven or eight members of the orchestra had valid contracts. "Unfortunately, the rest have not had contracts over the past months, and it seems unlikely their contracts will be extended." | Arsalan Kamkar, a violinist in the orchestra, said on Monday that only seven or eight members of the orchestra had valid contracts. "Unfortunately, the rest have not had contracts over the past months, and it seems unlikely their contracts will be extended." |
| Kamkar said the shutdown highlighted the dislike for western-oriented culture by Iran's rulers, who were also keeping from public view one of the world's prized collections of European and American modern art. | Kamkar said the shutdown highlighted the dislike for western-oriented culture by Iran's rulers, who were also keeping from public view one of the world's prized collections of European and American modern art. |
| In August, the Museum of Contemporary Art displayed about 100 works, purchased by the late shah and his family, which included pieces by Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Jasper Johns. But most of the collection, including works by Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Francis Bacon and many others, remains in the vaults and basement. | In August, the Museum of Contemporary Art displayed about 100 works, purchased by the late shah and his family, which included pieces by Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Jasper Johns. But most of the collection, including works by Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Francis Bacon and many others, remains in the vaults and basement. |
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